All matches have now been played in D1 and the season can rarely have had a more exciting conclusion

All matches have finally been played in D1 and the season can rarely have had a more exciting conclusion. Promotion and relegation went down to the very last 2 matches and in the end, a promotion place was decided on counting back matches won, after a tie on points for 2nd place.

Starting at the top however and the 2013/14 D1 champions are Pegasus A. Needing to win their last game by 7 to take the title, the Marks Tey based team got home in style, chalking up their first 10-0 of the season away to Rowhedge D. With Ian Whiteside and Glen Laing leading the way and ably supported by Duncan Elloy and Steve Noble, they finished their last match with an unassailable 4 point lead over their nearest rivals. At that time second place was held by Uni A, victorious in a match of changing fortunes over Walton’s finest. Walton A led 2-0 and John Rice was poised to make it 3 with 4 match points over Uni’s Matt Horrocks but the students’ captain clawed a way back and prevailed in five. The tide was turning by the seaside and the Uni crested the waves to take the match 7-3. Uni lead by 9 but Walton had a game in hand remaining. Could they get a maximum to pip the University to 2nd place? The last game of the season saw 2 player Rowhedge E travel along the coast to Walton... Knowing that only a whitewash would guarantee promotion, all went smoothly until game 7 where Martin Edwards rallied from 2 down against Colin Dearman to notch what proved to be the fatal point. 9-1 to Walton meant a tie on points but narrow success for the Uni on overall matches won. As it said on the scorecard, ‘phew that was close!’ A free drink awaits Mr Edwards in the student union bar….

4th place goes to the admirably consistent threesome of Paul and Mike Tracey plus Mel Rampton -each an ever present for Dedham A and the only other team to clear the 100 point barrier. A tremendous achievement in more ways than one.

At the other end of the table, doom and gloom hangs over Lawford as both their A and B teams finish in the bottom 2 places. There was nothing to separate the 2 village teams as they both finished on 70 points, each crucially 6 behind Walton B. Next season could be interesting as, on a brighter note, Lawford’s C team won Division 3 so all 3 teams should be up against each other in D2 in 2014/2015.

Author: Steve Noble via Colchester Table Tennis League

Article Published: Monday 7th April 2014

Last Updated: Monday 7th April 2014

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